Wool-washing machine



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L. A. PECKHAM- WooL WASHING MACHINE.

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Wool, lWASHING MAG-EINE. 10.558,305.

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- L.A A. PBOK'HAMV. A

WOOL WASHING MACHINE.

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(No Modem' Paentedpr. 14, 1896.

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` 15 Sheets-sheet 8. L.- A. PBCKHAM. WOOL WASHING MACHINE.

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Patented Apr. 1 -4 WM E 'TTORNE Y.

(No Model-,5 15 sheets-sheet 1o.l

- L. A PBCKHAM A WOOLWASHING MACHINE. l Ia-558,305. PatentedApn14, 1896.

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(No Model.) 15 sheets-511555 11. I

L. A. PECKHAM.

WOOL WASHING MAGHINE. No. 558,305. Pam-,511155111111 14, 1896.

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I i 15 Sheets-Sheet 12. L. A. PBCKHM. WOOL WASHING MAHINE.

@tamed Apr. 14, 1896.

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15 Sheets-Sheet 13.

(No Model.)

L. A. BECKHAM. WOOL WASHINGMAGHVINEA.

Patented-Apr. 14', 1896.v

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WOOL .WASHING MACHINE.l

No. 558,3o5.- Patented Apr.l14, 1896;

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` 15 Sheets-Sheet UNITED STAT'ns PATENT OFFICE.

LUTHER'A. rEcKHAM, oF'oswEGo FALLS, NEW Yoan.

,WOOL-WASHING MACHINE.

' SPECIFICATIN forming' part of Letters Patent No. 558,305, dated April 14, 1896.

Applicationied February 15, 1895. serin'ro. 538,513. (Nomads.)

To' au whom it may concern:y

Be it known that I, LUTHER A. PECKHAM,

of Oswego Falls,l in the county of Oswego, in

the State of New York; have invented new and useful Improvements in Wool-Washing Machines; of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, land exact description.

This invention consists in an improved or- Iempty condition and with some of its com` ponent parts removed. Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the end portions of said machine. Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section of one of the end portions of the machine, taken on line Y \Y in Fig. Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section of the opposite end portion of the machine. Fig. 8 is an enlarged plan view of the end of the machine at whichthewashed fibers are delivered from the bowl. Fig. 9 is an eleva# tion of Athe forks which deliver the washedV `fibers from the bowl, viewed from the end of the machine. Fig. l0 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section 'of said forks, taken im@ mediately inside of the side of the bowl. Figs. ll 4and l2 are enlarged vertical transverse sections respectively on lines X X and Z Z in Fig. 1, viewed in the directions of the arrows thereat. Fig. 13 is an enlarged side v.view and partly a sectional viewlof the adjustable pitman, which transmits motion "to the devices which squeeze the fibers within the bowl.. Fig. 14 is a side elevation of a modification of ymy invention. Fig. l5 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the upper bowl of said modification. Fig. 16 is a further enlarged longitudinal vertical section of -said modification. Fig. l'7 is an' enlarged detached perspeetive'view' of two forms of devices for squeezing theflbers within the liquid in the bowl. Figs. 1,8 and 19 illustrate further modifications of my invention, partly external views and partly sectional views. a longitudinal sectional view of one of the spring-coupled pitmen, and Fig. 2l illustrates a modification of the mechanisms for imparting rotary motion to the rollers employed for squeezing the wool or fiber in the .suds or other liquid within the bowl.

Similar letters of reference indicate spondin g parts.

A represents the bowl, which constitutes the reservoir for the liquid in which the woolV or other fiber is to be treated. Above this y,bowl I place another bowl A,which is separate and distinct from the lower .bowl and constitutes the receptacle in which the fibers are either washed orcarbonized. Inasmuch as the machine is chiey designed for washing wool I will refer to said parts, respectively, as the liquid-bowl and the washing-bowl in my further description of the machine. Said upper or washing bowl is securely mounted on.

the lower bowl by standards A A and receives the suds or liquid from the lowcrbowl by means of a force-pump B', having its suction-pipe B' connected to the lower bowl at they Fig. ,2O isv .C denotes the usual feed-apron by which In order to cause the fibers to wardly-directed discharge-slot D', extending,

preferably,throughout the entire width of the latter and having a flaring mouth to throw a downward stream of liquid between the breast C' vand apron C and against said breast and apron vand thereby wash the fibers from'the loq discharge end of said apron and throw said c fibers down into the bowl, as indicated by arrows iniFig. 7 of'the drawings. I also conneet to the discharge-,pipe of the l aforesaid pump another pipe E, which extends" across the exterior of the end of the upper bowl beneath 4the return bottom portion of the apron C and is provided with a discharge-spout E', extending lengthwise of the pipe E andin an upward and inward direction into the bowl between the top of the latter and bottom of the apron, by means of which spout E' a stream of liquid is thrown against the bottom of the apron to cleanse the 'same from the ibers'and throw them into the bowl. To prevent the fibers from adhering to the said end of the bowl, I provide the bottom of the spout E' with downwardly-directed perforations c, adjacent to the end of the inner side of the end Wall of the bowl, so that the `sprayof liquid issuing from said perforations will cleanse said wall. y

The washbowl A is provided with one or more depending sand-traps F,separatcd from the lower bowl, each of said traps being covered by a perforated plate or strainer R, which allows the sand and grit to pass through it and into the trap wherein said substances are collected and thus retained separated from the liquid in the lower bowl. To allow said traps to be cleaned simultaneously with the cleaning o`f the lower bowl A, I connect to the pump-discharge pipe B" branch pipes F', which extendinto the said traps and'have their inclosed portions perforated to throwsprays of liquid into the traps,as clearly shown in Fig. 1I of the drawings. Each traphas connected to it a discharge-pipe F", which is provided with a gate or valve G, which is closed during the washing process. A valve II in the connection of the branch pipes with the pipe B'l is also to be closed during said.

process.

` To allow the liquid from the pump-dis charge pipe B" to beeondueted into thev branch pipes F' when desired, I prov-ide said diseharge-pipeB" with a valve or stop-cock- H' beyond4 the connection of said branch pipes -with the pipe B", as shown in Fig. 2 of thedrawings. -i

In cleaning out the machine the stop-cock of the usual outletF'" in the bottom of the bowlA is opened, .and after closing the stopcock H' the valves H and G are opened. The pump B being in operation causes the liquid to be forced Iinto the branch pipes F', from .whence it enters the traps and washes out the sandand grit'which is allowed to escape-through the discharge-pipes F" into the lower bowl A.

Ifdesired, a single sand-trap may be em ployed, as represented at Fn in Figs. .14, 15,

. and 16of the drawings, which trap extends Y into opposite ends thereof, the bottom of the trap being inclined from the ends to the center, where thedi'scharge-pipeFW is attached.

I employ7 devices for intermittently squeezing the wool upon the bottom of the bowl, so as to press the suds or liquid out of the wool and carry out with it the sand, grit, dirt, and grease.V Said means of washing the wool may be constructed in various ways without departing from the spirit of my invention. The

squeezers may be either of the form of rollersv extending across the bowl A', as represented at I, or consist of boxes I' placed inverted over the bottoni of the bowl and provided with outwardly-opening valves a for the escape of the air displaced in the boxes during the operation of submerging them in` the liquids,or said boxes may be permanently closed, as shown at I", and, furthermore, the squeezer may extend the entire length of the bowl, as shown at I'" in Fig. 19 of the drawings. The squeezing may be effected either by causing the aforesaid squeezers to move toward and from the bottom of the bowl, as shown in the majority of the figures in the drawings, or by causing the washing-bowl to rock vertically, the latter construction being represented in Fig. 18, in whichthc bowl is designated A. The latter motion may be produced by an eccentric K, attached to a rotary shaft K' and carrying upon its periphery one end of the bowl which-is hinged/at its opposite end, as shown at I"'; but inasmuch as it requires the bowl I prefer to secure the samepermw nently in a horizontal or nearly horizontal considerable power to impart said motion to roo posi-tion and employ suitable means'for moving the before-described squeezers toward and from the bottom of the bowl. This may be accomplished either by oscillatory levers L L at opposite sides of the b'owl and having two arms L' L', fulcrumed on the axes of a pair of the squeezers, or, ,when the squeezer extends nearly the entire length of the bowl, said squeezer may be caused to receive its vertical motion by hanging it on eccentrics M, fastened to rotaryl shafts M' over opposite ends of the squeezer, as represented in Fig. 19 of the,

drawings. I'prefer, however, to employ the levers L L, whiclizare each provided with an upwardly-extending arm L" and two arms L L', extending laterally in opposite directions from the lower end ofthe arm L", and preferably fulcrum said )lever on the axes of two rollers I I, which are pivoted to the ends offsaid-arms. By oscillating said levers in IIO planes at right angles to the axes of the rollers one of said rollers is lifted by one arm of each lever, while the other arm presses down the other roller and is fulcrumed thereon, and said motion of the rollers is reversed during each stroke o f the levers. The leversof g each pairof rollers areunited by a cross-bar N to compel the two levers to move in unison.

I- prefer to employ a plurality of squeezinglrollers I.I,arra,nged in pairs, each of which lpairs is connected to a pair of levers L, united as aforesaid, and in order to operate all of said rollers in unison I couple together the crossabars N N by longitudinal rods N'.' One f the .levers L has its third or upwardly-projectin g arm L" provided with an extension L"',

which, by a pitman O, is connected to a wrist- A nected. Said slot allows the pin P on a rotary wheel Q, which when in motion imparts a rocking motion to the levers L by means ofthe pitman.

In order to guard against undue strain on the levers and'their connections, incident to an uneven distribution of the wool in the bowl, I form the pitman with a longitudinallyyielding joint obtained by formingthe pitman of two sections connected end to end by spiral spring bin a sleeve b', inclosing the adjacent ends of the pitman-sections and bearing against collars 1)"011 the ends of said sec-A tions, as illustrated inFig. 13 of the drawings. I also providemeans for varying the degree of the lifting of the rollers I I by providing the wheelQ with a diametric slot d for .the

reception of the'bolt by which to clamp on said wheel ia block d', which hasattached to it the wrist-pin to which the pitman 0 is con.- wrist-pin to. be

A set either in the center of the wheel orany desired distance therefrom.

-In order to impart to the rollers I I a rotary motion so as to cause the ,wool to be moved toward the discharge end of the bowl, I attach to the axes of said rollers, atl one side of the bowl, gear-wheels e e and fasten to the same side of lthe bowl gudgeons upon which are mounted intermediate pinions e,^mesh= ing with the gear-wheels of a pair of rollersI I.

To the same gudgeons are fastened beveledgears f, meshing with beveled pinion f' attached toa `rotary shaft g, which extends along the side of the bowl, as more clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The means for transmitting motion to the shaft g may be varied in numerous ways, and I therefore do not limit myself in this respect.

S S represent the squeeZe-rolls, which extend across the discharge end of the bowl to express the liquid from the washed wool. These rolls I prefer to arrange with their bite nearly or quite in line with the bottom of the interior of the bowl A', as. shown in Figs. 6

and 10 of the drawings.

For delivering the washed wool to the rolls S'S, 'I have devised oscillatory forks, which are pivoted one in'rear of the other but operate through parallel paths,and each delivers 'l the washed bers to the rolls without assistance from the other, instead of employing two or more rakes or forks delivering the washed ber one to another, as heretofore proposed. Each of these forks extends across the bowl and consists of aframe T, pivoted in suitable bearings h h, secured to the sides of the bowl. Said frame is thus allowed to swing inan arc toward and from the squeeze-rolls- S S or discharge end of the bowl. To a horizontal cross-bar T on the lower vend of the frame T are pivoted 'thc tines t which are toward the rlls S S by the freeends of the tines sliding on a-metal plate hereinafter described. It'willbe observed that each fork travels up to the delivery end of the bowl and thereby delivers the washed ber A to the squeeze-rolls S S without assistance from the other forks. I preferably form said tines with auxiliary teeth t', projectingfrom the bottom of the tines, and also hinge to the rear portion of the main tine a supplemental tine t". That` portion of the bottom, of the bowl which is under the aforesaid forks is formed of a metal plate U, which extends to the squeeze-rolls S S, and adjacent to said rolls is another plate U', which'is countersunk in the top of the plate U. Back of the plate U' the plate U is perforated and forms the sole outlet of the suds or liquid from the washingbowl A to the lower bowl or reservoir A.

To properly guidev the free ends of the tines and to enable'theni to obtain effective hold` upon the wool, I provide the'vtop of the platewith longitudinal grooves i t', in' which the tines slide, .as more clearly seen in Fig,- 8 of the drawings, and also provide said plate withl IOO U prevent`the j, which extend in opposite directions from their axes and are preferably on the same shaft k which receives rotary motion from the driving-shaft o by intermeshing gears o o". I do not, however, limit myself to this particular mechanism for actuating the aforesaid crank-shaft, as the same maybe effected.

by other suitable means. A l

-In orderto guard against undue strain on the forks and their connections incident to the tines of said forks engaging an excessive amount of ber, I provide the pitmen V V with suitable spring-couplings, which allow said pitmen to yield longitudinally when subjected to excessive strain. -One form of said spring-couplingsis illustrated in Fig. 20 of vthe drawings, and consists of the sleeve/m, formingone end portion of the pitman and receiving in ita portion of a rod m', which constitutes the other endportion of the pitman. Said rod passes through a cap n, secured to theend of the sleeve, and the inner end of the rod has aixed to it a head n,-be tween which 'and the cap 'n is a compressed spiral spring n, surrounding the rod m'.

Another salient feature of my invention residesin the screen o r strainer J in the end of IIO the lower howl A, directly under the plate U,

:o5 from pitmen V V, connectedtotwo cranks'j 4 L Y l 558,305

which is provaed'wnh nie vsoie ounetjrof uit" liquidfrom theupper bowl to the lower bowli; This strainer extends across the bowlandftou the top thereof and under'the lower` squeezeroll S, as shown in' Fig. Gfof the drawings-.1A This strainer serves to vcollect-all the fine iibers which may escape from the upper bowl. To carry these iinev fibers back to the upper .bo'wl A', I connect the suction-pipe B ofthe pump B to the lower bowl A. ata point to communicate with the interior of the aforesaid strainer J, preferably'l near the base thereof, and thus convey said' fibers withthe'liquid to the'bowl A'. By this means I'effectually prevent the'waste of said fibers. p

One of the meansof imparting rotarymotion to the rollersI I is shown inrliig.` 215 ,'of'` the drawings, and'consists of pawls ordogsjr,"

mounted on the bowl A' and engaging ratchl D D h ets r on the ends of 'the rolls I'I Aduringmtlie descent of the latter; y

HavingV described, my invention, what' I claim is I A l'. In a'machine for washing orcarbonizing wool or other fibers,- the' combination of two bowls arranged one above the other, a strainer! in the bottom of the upper bowl, means for causing the iiber to be squeezed againstsaid strainer, a valved sand-trap depending from said strainer, a pump for forcing liquid from the lower into the upper bowl, and avvalvedI pipe communicating with said pump -and sand-trap for fiushi ng the latte r, substan tially as described.l 4

2. The combinationvwith the,washing-bowll of a wool washing or carbonizing machine, of a strainer in the bottom thereof, a sand-trapdepending from said strainer, a valve for said sandtrap, a pump for supplying the washingbowl withliquid, a branclrpipe communicat"- ing withsaid sand-trap and pump, and valves F' controlling the supply of liquid respectivelyy to the bowl and sand-trap, substantiallyas described,

3. ln a machine forl washin g or carbonizing wool or other fibers, the combination withthe two bowls arranged one above the other, a sand-trap depending from the upperbowl, and a, discharge-pipe attached to said trap and provided with. a valve, of a pump for forcing the liquid from the lower into the upper bowl, and a valved pipe communicating with said `pump andsand-trap for iiushingthe lat- 4. The 'combination -with aV berfwashing bowl, of iiber-squeezers therein, rocking levers supporting said squeezers, a pitman connected with said levers, a wheel having a dia- Vmetrical slot, a block to which said pitman is secured, and means passing within said' slot for securing said lblock adj ustably to said wheel, for the purpose specified.

5. The combination with the washbowl, of a sand-trap depending from'said bowl, a discharge-pipe attached to said trap, Ya valve connected to said pipe, and a liquidconveying pipe extending through the trap and perfostantially as set forth.'

rated to discharge liqnid'inthe trap substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. Ajvool or fiber washing machine com# pris'ing two separate and distinct bowls disposed one above the other, sand-traps connectedv to the upper bowl andV providedwith. lvalved discharge-pipes, agitators in said bowl, a force-pump having Yits vsuction-pipe conlnected to the lower bowl, thedischarge-pipe fofsaid pump communicatingwith the upper bowl, branch pipes ertendingl from said discharge-pipe into the sand-traps, and valves controllingthe iiows of liquid `respectively to the bowl and to the aforesaid branch pipes asset forth.

4 7 In a machine forwashing or carbonizing wool or other fibers, the combination with the washing-bowl having a plurality of strainers "in, itsbottom, vertically movable squeezers operating therein to squeeze the fibers against said strainers, and a valved sand-trap depending from-.each of said strainers, of a lowerfbowl,l apump for forcing liquid from said lower,4 bowl intothe washbowl, branch pipes extending into said sand-traps and communicating` with they pump, and valves controllingthe-ilow of liquid respectively to the washing-bowls and to the branch pipes, sub- 8. In a fiber-Washing machine, the combinationof two separate bowls disposed one above the other, sand-.traps depending from the upper bowl and provided with valved dischargepipes, strainers over said traps, ber-squeezers over-thestrainersg'a force-pump having its suction-pipe connected to the lower bowl, the discharge-pipeof said pump communicatling with the upper bowl,'branc h pipes extending from said' discharge-pipeinto the sandtraps and perforated therein, and valves con- IOC trolling the flows of liquid respectively to the Y upper bowl .and to the branch pipes as set forth.,

' 9. The combination with the ber-washing bowl, and levers movable toward and from the bottom thereof, ofiber-squeezers supported by said levers and movable therewith, means'for operating said levers, and means for rotating said squeezers.

10. The combination with two separate bowls disposed one above the other,` sandtraps connected with the bottom of the upper bowl, and` strainers over said traps, of levers movable toward and from said strainers, rollers supported by 'said levers, and movable therewith, and means for rotating said rollers.

"" 11. The combination with a journaled squeezerfroll, awashing-bowl, and means for moving said roll toward and from the bottom of said washing-bowl, of gearing for impartf. lng rotary motion to said` squeezer-roll, sub-` stantially as described.

IIO

12". The combination with the ber-wash- A ing bowl, of verticallyfmo'vable rollers extending across said bowl andintermittently squeezing theibers upon'the bottom of the bowl, means for moving said rolls toward and from .the bottom of the bowl, and mechanism imparting rotary motion to said rollers, as set forth. e J

13. The combination of'two separate bowls disposed one above the other, and a pump forcing the liquid from' the lower to the upper bowl, sand-traps connected to the bottom of the upper bowl, verticallyrmovable rollers disposed axially across the upper bowl and intermittently squeezing the bers upon the bottom of said bowl, means for moving said.

rolls toward and from the bottom of the bowl and mechanism imparting rotary motion to said rollers as set forth. l

ll. In combination with the liber-.washing bowl, three-armed levers at opposite sides of the bowl, rollers vextending across said bowl and pivoted to two of the arms of each lever, a rod connecting the two levers at the third arms thereof, mechanism imparting to saidI levers a rocking motion in a plane at right angles to the axes of thev rollers, and mech# anism imparting rotary motion to the rollers whereby the lowered'roller will both squeeze the fiber and feedit tobeneath the adjacent raised roller, as set forth.

15. The combination with the fiber-washing bowl, of fiber-squeezers movable toward and from the bottom thereof, means for operating said squeezers alternately in oppo'- site directions, and mechanism for rotatingg. 'said squeezers to cause them to-'also feed the bowl, of a plurality of three-armed levers arranged in pairs at opposite sides of said bowl, fiber-squeezers extending across the bowl and each pivotedto corresponding arms of a pair of levers, rods connecting each pair of levers at the third arms thereof, a longitudinal rod coupling together said connecting-rods, and a reciprocating pitman imparting motion to said longitudinal rod and composed of sections connected end to end by a spiral-spring coupy ling to compensate for the inequality of the movement of .the squeezers due to unequal distribution of the fibers in the bowl as set forth. A v

1S. The combination',with the fiber-washing bowl, of a plurality of rollers extending across said bowl and arranged in pairs, three-armed levels at opposite Sides of the bowl and each pivoted at the junction of its several arms,

cross-rods connecting the levers of eacllpair of rollers at the third arms thereof, a longitudinal rod coupling together the cross-rods, a reciprocating pitman moving withwit thezsaid longitudinal rod, gears attached to the axes of the rollers, intermediate pinions pivoted `to f A the side of the bowl and meshing with said gears, a rotary shaft extending along the side of the bowl, and bevel-gears transmitting' motion from said shaft to the aforesaid pinions as set forth.

19. The combination with the liber-washing bowl, of rollers extending acrosssaid bowl,

three-armed levers at opposite sides of the bowl and each pivoted at the junction of its4 several arms, a cross-rod connecting said levers at, the third arms thereof, a rotary wheel,

a wrist-pin connected to said wheeladjustably toward and fromthe center thereof, and

a pitman vconnecting said wrist-pin to the aforesaid cross-rod as set forth.

2o. in Combination with the fiber-'washing bowl, a plurality of rollers extending across the bowl and arranged in pairs, three-armed levers at opposite sides of the bowland each pivoted at the junction of ,its several arms, cross-rods connecting the levers of each pair of rollers at'the third arms thereof, a longi- 95 l tudinal rod coupling together said cross-rods, a rotary wheel, a wrist-pinconnected to said wheel adj ustably toward and from the center theref,` a pitman -connecting said wrist-pin to one of the aforesaid cross-rods, gears attachedto the axes of the rollers, intermediate pinions pivoted to the side of the bowl, a ro,- tary shaft extending along the side of the bowl, and beveled gears transmitting motion from said longitudinal shaft to the aforesaid "f 1.

intermediatepinions as set forth. i 2l v'The combination with the iiber-washin g bowl, of an endless apron for delivering the fiber to said bowl, a transverse breast in front of the delivery end of said apron, a transverse pipe beneath said apron, said pipe having anozzle which discharges upwardly and inwardly against the fiber on the under side of the delivery end of said apron and isiformed with downwardly directed supplemental` openings discharging yadjacent tothe .innere IOO .Hes

side of the end wall ofthe bowl, and a pump g for forcing fluid into said pipe.

22.The combination-with the fiber-washing 1 bowl, having a transverse breast near its re'- ceiving end, and au endless apron for delivl, ering the fiber to the space between said breast and receiving end of the bowl, of a transverse" pipe, having a discharge-slot arranged to washi fiber olf the delivery end of the apronand tor-1 1 Y force the fiber into the ,bowl and beneath said breast, a transverse pipe having a discharge nozzle arranged to wash fiber olf the under; side of the apron, said discharge-nozzle having supplemental discharge-openings in its under j e t I3# side, and a pump for forcing fluid through said pipe. 23. The combination with thc fiber-washing 

